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Rumours that Angola is not ready to host the 2010 Orange Cup of Nations are “absolutely rubbish”, said Suketu Patel, a member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football, said this Monday, 28th September after a five-day inspection of new stadiums built to host the tournament.

“I think it’s going extremely well”, told Patel to AFP, according with note published by CAF’s website this Tuesday, 29th September.

“There are a few things that need to be resolved and we brought that into attention of the government and we are quite confident it will be a very good CAN in the end”, said the nspector.

The CAF delegation has spent five days inspecting Angola’s four new stadiums in host cities Luanda, Lubango, Benguela and Cabinda. Inspectors also visited hospitals, hotels and other facilities ready to host the tournament from 10th to 31st January 2010.

Patel said rumours about Angola0s level of preparedness – which included speculation that World Cup 2010 host South Africa may step in – were absolutely rubbish.
The inspector was speaking at the conclusion of a meeting between the head of CAF Delegation, Mohamed Raouroua, Angolan Minister of Youth and Sports Gonçalves Muandumba, and Justino Fernandes, the president of Organizing Committee of the African Cup of Nations ANGOLA 2010.

Suketu Patel, who is also president of the regional body Cosafa (The Council of the Southern African Football Association), said that there had been discussions about making easier for fans and foreign journalists to get entry visas. The Angolan Government is working on it, he said.

The official group draw for the African Cup of Nations is due to take place November 20 in Luanda, after qualifying matches end on November 14. Despite Angola, which is already classified as host country, 15 other teams will participate in the tournament, having Algeria, Côte d’Ivôire, Egypt, Ghana and Tunisia its participation granted from qualifying results.

(Source: CAF Website)